By Michael Ormsby
Education pays. That’s what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says. People with more education make more money. That’s not a big surprise. But they also are less likely to be unemployed. Who has the highest unemployment rate and lowest pay rate? People without a GED® credential or high school diploma. When unemployment grows, those without a high school diploma suffer most. The GED test is a chance to earn a high school-level diploma, but more than that, it opens doors to the higher education that’s so valuable in today’s job market.
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Take a look at unemployment rates in 2008. No high school diploma or GED test credential? The unemployment rate was 9%. Among high school graduates, it was only 5.7%. That’s lower by more than a third. What if you earned a 2-year Associate degree at a community college? The unemployment rate was only 3.7% among people with Associate degrees. The more education you earned, the lower your chances of being unemployed. That means education equates to jobs.
But what kind of jobs? That’s where income comes in. Among people 25 and over who had full-time jobs, the median weekly income for people without a high school diploma or GED test credential was $426 in 2008. With a high school diploma or GED test credential, it jumped to $591 a week, an increase of nearly 40%. With that 2-year Associate degree, median income $736 a week. More education equates to better paying jobs.
Here is the complete data table from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| 2008 Unemployment rate | Education attained | 2008 Median weekly earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0% | Doctoral degree | $1,555 |
| 1.7% | Professional degree | $1,522 |
| 2.4% | Master’s degree | $1,228 |
| 2.8% | Bachelor’s degree | $978 |
| 3.7% | Associate degree | $736 |
| 5.1% | Some college, no degree | $645 |
| 5.7% | High-school graduate | $591 |
| 9.0% | Less than a HS diploma | $426 |
The opportunities that education gives you are too good to pass up. If
you don’t have your high school diploma, look into how to
get a GED diploma. You can get more education, and more
education means more opportunity.
To get GED® test-taking secrets, check out the GED guide GED Smart. The GED Academy is your source for GED online resources and GED classes online. Try a free GED practice test online or a sample free GED class.
Michael Ormsby is the president of the GED Academy and oversees software and curriculum for adult learners and people with educational challenges. For more information, visit passGED.com. Michael can be contacted by telephone at 800-460-8150.
